The first in a long list of newly developed helicopters expected to revamp the U.S. Marine Corps fleet has arrived.

Stratford-based Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, has begun delivery of its new CH-53K King Stallion helicopter to the Marine Corps as part of a contract awarded in 2013. The total number of helicopters is slated to hit 200.

“Our first delivery of a CH-53K to the Marine Corps marks the start of a new generation of true heavy lift helicopter deliveries by Sikorsky that bring unsurpassed and expanded capability across the modern battlefield to provide tremendous mission flexibility and efficiency in delivering combat power, humanitarian assistance or disaster relief for those in need,” said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz in a press release.

The King Stallion is a new heavy lift helicopter designed to replace the outdated CH-53E Super Stallion — also developed by Sikorsky — which has been a part of the Marine Corps fleet since 1981.

The helicopter will be stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C., where it will enter a Supportability Test Plan that will make sure it’s ready to enter service.

The King Stallion debuted overseas last month during the ILA Berlin Air Show in German, displaying its new fly-by-wire technology designed to decrease the workload on pilots without sacrificing maneuverability.

Flying at over 200 knots, roughly 230 mph, the helicopter features a larger cabin and can carry three times the amount of its predecessor with a 27,000-pound external load capacity.

“I am very proud of the work accomplished to deliver the most powerful helicopter ever designed into the hands of our Marines and confident in the teamwork and dedication in this program which will carry us to IOC (Initial Operational Capability) next year,” Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, deputy commandant for aviation, said in a statement.

Sikorsky is preparing its Stratford facility for further production slated to begin this summer. The manufacturer has 18 other helicopters in different stages of productions and plans to deliver its second CH-53K in early 2019, the company said.

Spokeswoman Erin Cox said the company would be investing around $96 million in structural modifications to their final assembly production area in Stratford, which will result in upgraded crane systems, and also upgraded the rig area for testing water-tightness, and rearranged utilities to support the King Stallion work.

Sikorsky is also in the process of transferring and installing equipment from its Florida site where the test aircraft was assembled.

While initial production of the helicopters is moving slowly as the first few contracts only call for a few aircraft, future contracts may result in an increase in demand for workers to complete the orders, Cox said.

“As we begin to move from this Low-Rate Initial Production phase into Full-Rate Production several years from now, the workforce ramp-up will accelerate significantly,” Cox told Hearst Connecticut Media in an email. “Since all these contracts still need to be negotiated, it’s too early to determine specific numbers and dates.”

According to Reuters, the Marines Corps and Sikorsky are expected to finalize a contract for another six King Stallions in the coming months, which could be worth $700 million to the company.

The deal would cover costs for the new helicopters and a range of support work including a new maintenance depot.